Cleaning brush assembly for cleaning cylindrical surfaces

ABSTRACT

A new and improved brush assembly for cleaning a cylindrical surface, the improvement being in the planetary system which includes in combination a chain and a large stationary sprocket mechanism attached to the body of the cleaning machine, the said chain extending over the large sprocket and a second smaller sprocket, the second sprocket in the planetary system being the power transmitting means to a system of cleaning brushes for cleaning cylindrical surfaces.

United States Patent Kratt Feb. 15, 1972 [54] CLEANING BRUSH ASSEMBLYFOR CLEANING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES [72] Inventor: Henry J. Kratt, Tulsa,Okla.

[73] Assignee: Remco Manufacturing Co., Inc., Tulsa,

Okla.

[22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 a [2i] Appl.No.: 67,166

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.785,529, Dec. 20,

1968, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl ..l5/88 [51] int. Cl ..B08b 1/00 [58] Field oiSearch..l5/2l R,35,77,88, 104.04, 15/97; 74/660 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,237,957 4/1941 Christensen et a1 ..74/660 UX 2,307,4491/1943 Carpmail 15/88 2,353,125 7/1944 Carpmail... ...15/88 2,427,1299/1947 Fields ...15/88 2,436,099 2/ 1948 Cummings et al. ..15/88 PrimaryExaminer-Edward L. Roberts Attorney-Ralph E. Zimmerman 57 ABSTRACT A newand improved brush assembly for cleaning a cylindrical surface, theimprovement being in the planetary system which includes in combinationa chain and a large stationary sprocket mechanism attached to the bodyof the cleaning machine, the said chain extending over the largesprocket and a second smaller sprocket, the second sprocket in theplanetary system being the power transmitting means to a system ofcleaning brushes for cleaning cylindrical surfaces.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBFEB 15 I972 I SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTORHENRY J. KRATT ATTORNEY PATENTEUFEB 15 Ian I SHEET 2 0F 3 ATTORNEY-PATENTEIJ FEB 15 I972 SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. HENRY J. KRATT ATTORNEYCLEANING BRUSH ASSEMBLY FOR CLEANING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES This is acontinuation-impart of our copending application, Ser. No. 785,529 filedDec. 20, I968, in the United States now abandoned entitled CleaningBrush Assembly For Cleaning Cylindrical Surfaces."

The pipeline industry presently has a need for an improved pipelinecleaning machine which will thoroughly remove scale and rust from metalpipe transmission lines located in place in the filed installation. Toreview progress in this area, the first significant move in thedirection of providing equipment for removal of the rust and scale wasthe apparatus shown in the U.S. Pat. to Betzel, No. 3,050,759 issuedAug. 28, 1962, now assigned to Remco Manufacturing Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma,assignee of this patent application. The Betzel patent discloses apipe-cleaning machine with a support cradle for the pipe-cleaningapparatus which traverses a pipeline. The cleaning assembly which isdisclosed in the Betzel patent includes one or more rotating brushesattached individually to brush shafts at an angle positioned radially tothe curved surface of the pipe structure. The driving means for thebrush shaft consists of a belt-driven rotating drum upon which the brushshafts are mounted. A stationary circular friction surface is mounted inclose contact with the mounted shaft driving means by means of springsupports to cause the brush shafts to rotate on the cylindrical surfacewhen the belt-driven drum is placed in motion. The deficiency in thisapparatus is that the cleaning brushes, due to the slippage of theirfriction driving means, do not properly remove the heavy rust and scalewhich is found on the cylindrical surfaces of pipeline installations.Similarly, the U.S. Pat. issued to A. B. Carpmail, No. 2,299,523 datedOct. 20, 1942 and the U.S. Pat. to A; B. Carpmail, No. 2,307,449 datedJan. 5, 1943, and the U.S. Pat. issued to J. E. I-Iauser, No. 2,631,315dated Mar. 17, 1953 all suggest pipe cleaning means; however, theimproved pipe-cleaning assembly which I shall disclose includes featureswhich far surpass the features found in the pipe-cleaning machines shownin these patents.

The object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly withpositive traction and efficient action for cleaning cylindricalsurfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly in whichthe degree of cleaning can be regulated by adjusting the speed of therotation of the cleaning machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a system of chainand sprocket drive in combination with a source of power to givepositive drive to centrifugal brush assemblies in a pipe-cleaningmachine for cleaning cylindrical surfaces.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a balancedcounterweight in a brush assembly so that when the cleaning machine isin operation, the movement of the counterweight outwardly will createand transfer contact pressure through the supporting structure for thecounterweight and through the brushes to the cylindrical surface beingcleaned.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide transmittingmeans in a planetary system which will offer long life and highefficiency in a brush-cleaning machine. FIG. 1 is a perspective drawingshowing that part of the cleaning machine containing the improvements,namely, the brush assembly and the planetary sprocket and chain powerdriving means with supporting structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing showing precisely in detail thestructure of the brush assembly and the power shaft along with thesprocket and chain drive.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the brush assembly showing the relationship ofa four brush assembly with a source of power and means of transmissionof the power to the cleaning brush assembly.

Reference is made to FIG. 1. To properly coordinate the operation of theplanetary chain sprocket drive with the brush assembly in thepipe-cleaning machine, it will be necessary to explain briefly theoperation of this cleaning machine. The chain sprocket and brushassembly, which is partially shown in FIG. 1 is supported in a frame 1.The complete assembled cleaning machine which consistsof the framingsupport, the

planetary sprocket system and brush-cleaning assembly is suspended inspace by the boom of a side boom tractor, the cleaning section beingpositioned completely. around the cylindrical surface to be cleaned asshown in FIG. I. The complete machine is guided on the pipeline byroller support guides 22 and 22, FIG. 3. The framing 1 also sometimescalled a cradle is the support structure for the planetary chainsprocket and brush assembly. This, plus thepower supply (not shown),forms the complete cleaning machine. The framing l in the form of arigid box includes means (not shown) to suspend the structure from aboom. The planetary sprocket and brush assembly is placed within theframing. Directly inside the framing mounted on head rollers 2 and 2'are head rings 3 and 3'. The head rings and brace supports 6 and 6' andadditional bracing (not shown) which is assembled in a manner similar tobracing 6 and 6', form a circular squirrel cage in which bolted withspacers to the inner face of the head ring 3 is head ring sprocket 4.Head ring sprocket 4' which remains stationary at all times is boltedwith spacers to frame 1 on the opposite side. The brace supports shownas 6 and 6 are adequate structurally to place the chain and sprocketplanetary brush assembly within the squirrel cage structure. Inalternate position between the bracing 6 and 6 are positioned the brushpower shafts 5 and 5. The power shafts 5 and 5' which extend parallel tothe supports are mounted in bearings 17 and 17' respectively on the headring sprocket 4 and the head ring 3. Assembled on the power shaft arechain sprockets 9 and 9 on one side and chain sprocket II on the otherside of the power shaft 5. Located between chain sprocket 9 and chainsprocket 11 on power shaft 5 is the brush assembly comprising rocker armsupports 13 and 13' mounted on shaft 5 in bearings 18 and 18. On one endbetween the approximately parallel rocker arm supports is the cleaningbrush 14 on shaft 15 in bearings 19 and 19'. Suspended between theopposite, or other, end of the rocker ann supports 13 and 13 is acounterweight 16.

The planetary chain sprocket drive for operating the brush assemblyconsisting of a chain drive 20 rotating in 'the periphery of the headsprocket 4 and the periphery of a small sprocket 8 attached to a shaft7. This sprocket 8 transfers the power required from a motor to drivethe complete brush assembly. The sprocket 8 is positioned directly aboveand is engaged with the head ring sprocket 4 by chain drive 20 in such amanner so as to rotate the complete cleaning assembly in acounterclockwise direction. As the head ring sprocket 4 is rotated, thehead rings 3 and 3 move in the same direction on head rollers shown as 2and 2' respectively. Bolted to frame I is stationary sprocket 4' with asprocket 9' engaged with the stationary sprocket 4'. Around the headsprocket 4' and the sprocket 9 is a chain 10', the sprocket 9' beingmounted with a keyway on power shaft 5. Also mounted on power shaft 5 isa second chain sprocket 9 between the first sprocket 9 and the rockerarm support bearing 18'. Directly below chain sprocket 9 is anotherchain sprocket l2 fitted into the extremity of shaft 15. Fitted aroundchain sprocket 9 and 12 is a continuous chain drive 10. Likewise,mounted on shaft 5 between the rocker arm support bearing 18 and thesupporting bearing 17 is chain sprocket 11, directly below chainsprocket 11 is chain sprocket 11 with a continuous drive chain 21connected around chain sprocket 11 and 11. Chain sprocket 11' is mountedon power shaft 5 in a manner similar to chain sprocket 11. The power tothe cleaning brush 14 is transferred from shaft 5 by sprocket chaindrive 10 mounted on power shaft 5. In a similar manner, power istransferred from power shaft 5 by sprocket chain drive 24 to cleaningbrush 14'. Likewise, power can be transferred from a power shaft similarto the power shaft 5 as shown on the drawing to any number of brushassemblies not shown but which would be arranged in horizontal parallelarrangement similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The preferredembodiment of this invention contains two power shaft with brushassemblies which are arranged in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 3;however, if the size of the pipe being cleaned is larger in diameter andrequires more brushes to properly clean the surface, more brushassemblies can be added by arranging in a manner similar to the mannerdescribed above. Such additional brush assemblies as illustrated in FIG.1 are considered to be in the purview of this invention.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, illustrating a brush assembly mounted on apower shaft 5. As was previously stated in the above paragraph, thebrush 14 is rotating in a clockwise direction around a cylindricalsurface, the direction of rotation being clockwise or opposite to themovement of the whole cleaning brush assembly moving in the framebetween head rings 3 and 3 in FIG. 1. The brush assembly consists of tworocker arm supports 13 and 13' rotating on the power shaft andsupporting the cleaning brush 14 on one end and a counterweight 16 onthe other end. The size of this counterweight 16 is determined by theamount of centrifugal force which is developed as the whole assemblymoves in a counterclockwise circular direction about the cylindricalobject to be cleaned. Increasing the weight of the counterweight willincrease the amount of pressure being exerted by the cleaning brushes onthe cylindrical surface to be cleaned. Likewise, decreasing the weightof the counterweight also decreases the pressure being exerted by thecleaning brushes on the cylindrical surface.

As the complete assembly moves in a circular direction, the movement ofthe cleaning brush is in a direction opposite to the movement of thesquirrel cage assembly. The centrifugal force created by this movementacts radially on the surface through the cleaning brushes to thoroughlyremove the scale and rust from the surface in preparation for paintingor covering. The speed at which the power shaft 5 turns is not criticaland can be regulated at the power source. However, the speed necessarycan be adjusted according to the condition of the surface to be cleaned.Increasing the speed will effectively cause the cleaning brushes toabrade deeper and properly when the degree of rust and scale is heavy.Conversely, decreasing the speed of the rotation will cause the cleaningbrush to abrade more lightly.

Reference is to FIG. 2 which portrays the cleaning brush assembly. Aswas previously stated above, the cleaning brush mounted in bearings 19and 19' moves in a clockwise direction on shaft 15, the power beingsupplied through a chain drive FIG. 1. Shaft which supports brush 14 ismounted between a pair of approximately parallel rocker arm supports 13and 13 which support counterweight 16 on the other end. The rocker armsupports 13 and 13' are precisely balanced on power shaft 5 so that theamount of radial pressure due to the centrifugal force of the rotationwill be sufficient to give the desired effect of the cleaning brushes14.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 which shows the arrangement and relationshipof the brush assemblies in the squirrel cage support. As was statedpreviously, the cleaning machine frame 1 is supported in space andguiding supports 22 and 22 are furnished to guide the cleaning machineon the cylindrical surface being cleaned. FIG. 3 portrays the cleaningmachine with a cutaway view of the arrangement of the cleaning brushassembly which includes the cleaning brush l4, rocker arm support 13,the head ring 3 on head ring roller 2, the head ring sprocket 4,stationary sprocket 4, along with a source of power 23. The source ofpower is usually a gasoline motor geared through a sprocket and a chaindrive to head ring sprocket 4 which places the machine in motion. Then,through the unique planetary mechanism described under FIG. 1, the

cleaning assembly is put in rotating movement to remove the rust andscale as the cleaning machine traverses the pipeline or cylindricalsurface to be cleaned.

In summation, the brush and The planetary chain sprocket assemblydisclosed will effectively, and with rapidity, clean surfaces ofcylindrical structures in a manner heretofore not known.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the princi lesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to imit thepatent granted herein otherwise than necessitated by the disclosure.

I claim:

1. A cylindrical surface-cleaning machine comprising at least two brushassemblies, the said brush assemblies being powered by a planetary chainsprocket mechanism, the said brush assemblies moving in circulardirection about the axis center of the said cleaning machine, a firstand a second rotatable shaft, the said first and second rotatable shaftbeing mounted between the interface of a first head ring sprocketmounted on a first head ring and the interface of a second head ring,the said first and second head rings being properly braced andapproximately parallel to each other, each of the said head rings beingmounted on head ring rollers assembled on a frame, a stationary secondsprocket attached to the said frame and a third sprocket mounted on thesaid first rotatable shaft, the said stationary second sprocket and thesaid third sprocket being circumscribed by a first continuous chain, afourth sprocket on the said first rotatable shaft, positioned on thesaid first rotatable shaft between the said interface of the second headring and a pair of approximately parallel rocker arm supports rotatablymounted on the said first rotatable shaft, the said rocker arm supportsholding a third shaft with a cleaning brush mounted thereon, the saidthird shaft extending to support a fifth sprocket, the said fifthsprocket and the said fourth sprocket being circumscribed by a secondcontinuous chain drive, a sixth sprocket, the said sixth sprocket beingmounted on the first rotatable shaft between the said pair of rocker armsupports and the said interface of the first head ring sprocket, aseventh sprocket mounted on the said second rotating shaft between asecond pair of rocker arms mounted on the said second rotating shaft andthe said first head ring sprocket, a third continuous chain drivecircumscribing the said sixth and seventh sprockets, an eighth sprocketpositioned on the said second rotating shaft between the said secondpair of support arms and the said second head ring, a fourth rotatableshaft, the said fourth rotatable shaft being positioned between theextremities of the said second rocker arm supports and extended tosupport a ninth sprocket, the said eighth and ninth sprockets beingcircumscribed by a continuous chain drive, the said fourth rotatableshaft supporting a cleaning brush thereon.

2. The cylindrical surface cleaning machine as desCribed in claim 1where the said first and second rocker arm supports are extended tosupport a counterweight on the extremities opposite from the extremitiessupporting the said third and fourth shafts with cleaning brushesmounted thereon.

3. The cylindrical surface cleaning machine described in claim 1 wherethe said first and second rotatable shafts are ball bearing journaled inthe said first head ring sprocket and the second said head ring and thesaid first and second pair of rocker arm supports are bearingmounted onthe said first and second rotatable shafts respectively.

I t t

1. A cylindrical surface-cleaning machine comprising at least two brushassemblies, the said brush assemblies being powered by a planetary chainsprocket mechanism, the said brush assemblies moving in circulardirection about the axis center of the said cleaning machine, a firstand a second rotatable shaft, the said first and second rotatable shaftbeing mounted between the interface of a first head ring sprocketmounted on a first head ring and the interface of a second head ring,the said first and second head rings being properly braced andapproximately parallel to each other, each of the said head rings beingmounted on head ring rollers assembled on a frame, a stationary secondsprocket attached to the said frame and a third sprocket mounted on thesaid first rotatable shaft, the said stationary second sprocket and thesaid third sprocket being circumscribed by a first continuous chain, afourth sprocket on the said first rotatable shaft, positioned on thesaid first rotatable shaft between the said interface of the second headring and a pair of approximately parallel rocker arm supports rotatablymounted on the said first rotatable shaft, the said rocker arm supportsholding a third shaft with a cleaning brush mounted thereon, the saidthird shaft extending to support a fifth sprocket, the said fifthsprocket and the said fourth sprocket being circumscribed by a secondcontinuous chain drive, a sixth sprocket, the said sixth sprocket beingmounted on the first rotatable shaft between the said pair of rocker armsupports and the said interface of the first head ring sprocket, aseventh sprocket mounted on the said second rotating shaft between asecond pair of rocker arms mounted on the said second rotating shaft andthE said first head ring sprocket, a third continuous chain drivecircumscribing the said sixth and seventh sprockets, an eighth sprocketpositioned on the said second rotating shaft between the said secondpair of support arms and the said second head ring, a fourth rotatableshaft, the said fourth rotatable shaft being positioned between theextremities of the said second rocker arm supports and extended tosupport a ninth sprocket, the said eighth and ninth sprockets beingcircumscribed by a continuous chain drive, the said fourth rotatableshaft supporting a cleaning brush thereon.
 2. The cylindrical surfacecleaning machine as desCribed in claim 1 where the said first and secondrocker arm supports are extended to support a counterweight on theextremities opposite from the extremities supporting the said third andfourth shafts with cleaning brushes mounted thereon.
 3. The cylindricalsurface cleaning machine described in claim 1 where the said first andsecond rotatable shafts are ball bearing journaled in the said firsthead ring sprocket and the second said head ring and the said first andsecond pair of rocker arm supports are bearing mounted on the said firstand second rotatable shafts respectively.